Power Rankings: RBC Canadian Open

'Tis the season for national opens. Since the United States held its annual championship in June, Ireland, France and Scotland followed suit. And, of course, the Open Championship concluded on Sunday. Now it's Canada's turn.

Poised for its 104th edition this week, the RBC Canadian Open returns to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario for the 26th time, most among all courses that have hosted the tournament. This is one of Jack Nicklaus' earliest creations. Completed in 1976, Glen Abbey served as the site in 1977-1979, 1981-1996, 1998-2000, 2004 and 2008-2009. It exudes classic design what with tree-lined fairways, elevation changes and greens that average just 4,000 square feet.

Glen Abbey was renovated prior to the 2004 edition. The course was lengthened by over one hundred yards -- it measures 7,253 yards today -- and reduced to a par 71. However, after two runs as a par 4, the 16th hole was reverted to a par 5 in 2009. (It played that way through 2000.) So, the scorecard will reflect par as 35-37=72. Holes 5, 13, 16 and 18 serve as the par 5s. No. 16 averaged 4.488 strokes in 2009, easiest of the set. All four rank as the most scorable holes on the course.

Overall, Glen Abbey's scoring average in 2009 was 70.892 (or -1.108 to par). It averaged 70.830 (as a par 71 in 2008), so the field of 156 is encouraged to be aggressive. Damp conditions contributed to low scoring in the last two editions, but it should stay dry this week through Saturday. A threat for thunderstorms enters the picture on Sunday. High temperatures may not reach 80 degrees and winds are forecast to remain light.

NOTE: For similar characteristics among recent winners of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey, please look for "Stats Suggest" in The Stats Report on Wednesday.

Placed T11 at Muirfield despite a 79 in the second round. Led the field in par-5 scoring average. Three straight top 20s. Tied for fifth at Glen Abbey in 2009; ranked T7 in greens in regulation and third in strokes gained-putting.

Logged a T15 at Muirfield with gradually improving scores (6-over 74-73-72-71=290). Co-leads the PGA TOUR with 20 consecutive cuts made. Six top 10s. Currently sixth in adjusted scoring, T14 in par-4 scoring and T3 in par-5 scoring.

He's 8-for-8 in this tournament. This is his first appearance at Glen Abbey since a personal-best T4 in 2004. Top 10s in two of his last four starts (U.S. Open, Open Championship). Ranks T8 in total driving and 41st in adjusted scoring.

The Canuck is 2-for-4 with no top 45s in this tournament, but he's currently playing some of the best golf of his career. Streak of nine consecutive cuts made included five straight top 25s. T8 in par-4 scoring; T10 in par-5 scoring.

Top 15s in each of his last three starts. Tied for 15th at Muirfield despite ranking T75 in greens hit and T48 in scrambling. Overall, he's T31 on TOUR in total driving, 30th in strokes gained-putting and third in adjusted scoring.

Shared ninth at the Sanderson Farms Championship for his first top 10 in five months. Ranks 19th on TOUR in strokes gained-putting, T13 in proximity to the hole, 13th in adjusted scoring, first in scrambling and T2 in par-4 scoring.

He's chased a T9 at Greenbrier with a pair of close calls, finishing one stroke outside the playoff at TPC Deere Run and losing in the playoff at Annandale. Ignoring the playoff hole, he's 46-under spanning his last 12 rounds.

T9 at Annandale. Acknowledged it's all coming together mentally and with his swing. Top 10s in three of last five starts. Under par in 17 of last 23 rounds. Sits 32nd in strokes gained-putting, second in scrambling and T5 in par-4 scoring.

Sat one stroke off the lead after 36 holes at Muirfield, but faded to finish T32 after rounds of 76 and 77. His game translates to any course. Ranks T28 in strokes gained-putting, 26th in adjusted scoring and T31 in par-5 scoring average.

No worse than a T23 (The Greenbrier Classic) in his last four starts. He's 31-under in his last 16 rounds. For the season, he ranks 70th in strokes gained-putting, 14th in par breakers, 45th in adjusted scoring and T14 in par-4 scoring.

In just 10 starts as a pro, he's logged nine top 10s. That includes two wins and two seconds in Japan as well as a T10 at the U.S. Open and T6 at The Open Championship. Ranked second in greens in regulation at Muirfield.

Wasn't a factor at Muirfield where he settled for a T26 in his title defense, but he's only one month removed from a win in Germany. Four top-six finishes in his last eight starts worldwide. Ranks 35th on the PGA TOUR in adjusted scoring.

Only top 25 in his last seven starts was a solo fourth at the Travelers Championship, but he's survived his last six cuts. Sits T11 on TOUR in greens in regulation, 29th in adjusted scoring and T38 in par-5 scoring average.

Climbed out of a springtime slump in a big way, surviving six of his last seven cuts, including a T12 at TPC Deere Run and a solo fourth at Annandale where he shared the 54-hole lead. Tied for fifth at Glen Abbey in 2008.

Eleventh appearance in his national championship (T58 in 2008 at Glen Abbey). Lost in a five-hole playoff at the John Deere Classic, the fourth top 25 in his last six starts. Sits T14 in strokes gained-putting and T5 in par-4 scoring.